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Mice are Nice

Amy's Heart

Paula's Heart

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Sunday, December 9, 2018

Hi everyone...Little Jasper and I wanted to come in here and wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

With the new year fast approaching I began to reminisce about a lot of things...one of which was my Mouse Droppings business. I spent some time going through my earliest blog posts...and I was surprised to find that I started Mouse Droppings Folk art almost eleven years ago. Wow! Where did the time go?

I have met so many wonderful people along the way! Blogging really opened up a whole new world for me and it allowed me to show my work to a global audience. In the past I belonged to some amazing online groups and through them I began to build up my clientele. In the past I sold my work on Ebay and now I sell it here on my blog...getting to know Etsy and Facebook and now Instagram. I have to admit it has been hard to acclimatize to all this social media.

With life becoming more complicated I am ever so grateful that I can turn to my studio work for the peace, quiet and solitude that I need to thrive. As I work at creating my little characters I think of all the folks who have adopted them through the years and all the folks who have supported me...thank you just doesn't seem adequate...

Friday, October 19, 2018

My latest custom made piece was created for Amy, she requested a Hanging Heart Pin-Keep in teals and blues.

I started with my choice of fabrics...French General blue striped and solid color fabric, beige cross stitch fabric and the stitching was created with Valdani variegated floss.

The finished hearts and cross stitching were both aged and sanded to perfection...people freak out when I tell them I sand my cross stitching! Sanding gives it a well worn and soft appearance...try it...be brave my friends...experimenting is fun.

I am still working on getting through my list of commissions...it has been slow and I apologize to those folks who are still waiting for their pieces to be made. It has been a real balancing act these few months trying to develop our property and get all the garden beds built and things planted. It is a 4.5 acre property and I have a to do list a mile long.

It is October here in Gibsons British Columbia...it doesn't feel like it and it doesn't look like it either. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt the other day...unusually warm and sunny...I'm not complaining!

So as the saying goes..."Make Hay while the Sun Shines". So I have been busy planting trees, winter veg, berries, garlic and putting everything to sleep for the winter.

Time to harvest and fill my pantry with good things to eat. I tried my hand at making some cranberry ferment for the first time and also Cranberry Conserves. Next on my to do list is Pumpkin Pickle and canned Cranberry Salsa to go with our Xmas Turkey.

Time to hunker down...go through the cook books and make good things we can enjoy through the long winter months.

PS...do you folks still enjoy this blog? I haven't been to active in here and am wondering if there is still interest in perusing my Mouse Droppings Blog?Any feedback would be appreciated!

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

This little guyis a custom creation for a client of mine. She requested a rabbit perched on a Rusty Donut Cutter Pin Cushion in colors of pale blue, cream and grey.

I spent a few hours hand stitching tiny Forget Me Not Flowers onto Not Forgotten Farm's aged cross stitch linen. I used Valdani's variegated floss to stitch the flowers and regular floss for the leaves.

If you want to make your own rusty Donut Cutters you can go to your local cooking store to pick up a few...take them home and toss them into a solution of Vinegar, Salt and a little Water...it is stinky so place the container outside for a few days. Take the cutters out to air dry and they will continue to rust further. I then sand them them. As a finishing touch I apply clear shoe polish and buff them till they shine. CheeriosSusan

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

For the last few years Donna Of Brynwood Needleworks has been putting in requests for me to create a new piece for her. One that would incorporate her love of Oak Trees...Ya see she kinda has an Oak Tree fetish, oak leaf fetish...Acorn fetish...anything Oak she will want, love and covet...did I mention she really likes squirrels...course squirrels and Oaks just kinda go together. Donna and squirrels...both nutty for Oaks.

I told her that I've never made a squirrel...never designed a pattern for one...always wanted to, but never got around to it...I finally took the plunge and did...and it was fun...and I am ever so happy with how he turned out!

See the eggcup...it has Oak branches painted on it...yup...that's Donna's treasured egg cup...she mailed it to me so I could use it as a stand for my very first squirrel. Thank you Donna for trusting me with it! I am thrilled that I finally got to make you a piece that incorporates your love of Oak trees and squirrels.

Sunday, March 4, 2018

One teeny tiny little mouse up for adoption today. He measures 2 1/2 inches tall from the tip of his wee ears to the bottom of his fuzzy feet. I have given him a little red wool scarf to keep him warm on his journey to his new home.

He is perched on a pincushion fashioned from French General fabric...a red wool strawberry hangs off the side.

Encircling the two pincushions are white headed quilting pins to use in your sewing projects. On the bottom of the cushion are two wool circles and an old shell button.

He is $SOLD which includes shipping to anywhere in the USA or Canada.

This is not a toy and is intended for the adult collector or children above the age of 12.

Saturday, January 27, 2018

It's been a long while since I have posted...over a year I think. Lots has happened in this time...we built a new home and I have a new studio which I am just thrilled with.

and I am happy to say that I am back creating my critters. I posted a few photos of older work in this blog post just to refresh your memories...and mine. Always nice to to look on old work to help inspire new work.

As a side noteI will be posting Mouse Droppings updates on my Facebook page(link upper right of screen)...you are welcome to pop by there to see what I am up to.

Email me to join my mailing list if you would like to be notified of up and coming sales.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

For the longest time I have coveted those cross stitched pin-keep barrels that I have seen here and there online.So I took the plunge and decided to create one for myself.

I began my search for an old cross stitch pattern and came up with this one from my an old thrift store book called "Charted Folk Designs from Countries along the Danube"

by Maria Foris - a Dover Needlework Book.

The cross stitch linen was ordered from Lori of "NotForgotton Farm" Its her line of farmhouse linen that she ages and stains which saves me from doing it myself. The embroidery floss was dyed by my friend Lorraine who has an Etsy store from which she sell her hand dyed threads.

I have embellished the top edge of this pin-keep with Bullion knots...I think they add a nice decorative touch. I stuffed it with Lavender buds and now it scents the air nicely where ever it is placed. I really enjoyed making this piece and hope to do more in the future...maybe with a a wee critter on top.

Susan Pilotto is a mixed-media artist who specializes in creating one of a kind miniature animals from recycled wool felt fabric. Susan graduated from Vancouver's Capilano College with a Diploma in Studio Art.